Three Burdekin Roosters rugby league teams competed in Townsville’s Grand Finals on Saturday 7 September – the Under 13s, Under 18s, and Reserve Grade teams. While only one team brought home the trophy, it was the Under 13s who triumphed, taking out the Blackhawks Trophy as Under 13 premiers. Coached by former Burdekin five-eighth Mark Watson, the team had a challenging path to the final. After losing to Charters Towers in the major semi-final, they bounced back in spectacular fashion, defeatin
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The 2024 grand final for the Lower Burdekin Table Bowls Association took place at the National Hotel last week, with the Crushers going head-to-head against the Falcons. In an exciting showdown, the Crushers emerged victorious, claiming the trophy. Congratulations to the Crushers on their well-deserved win! Contributed with thanks to Kerry Davison.
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The Ayr Surf Club travelled to the beautiful Alma Bay on Magnetic Island over the weekend to undertake the first carnival of the competition season hosted by Arcadian SLSC. The club had a small but mighty contingent of only 32 competitors, who all put in some incredible individual and team efforts throughout the two days of competition. The Ayr crew ended up bringing home second overall out of the seven clubs in the North Barrier Branch, behind a much larger Arcadian team. Club president Be
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This coming weekend, Burdekin Surf Lifesaving will have three patrols scheduled to keep our beaches safe. Saturday, 21st September (1:00 pm to 5:00 pm) Patrol Group B: • Terry Lund • Tramayne Horan • Dylan Carew • Heather Scott • Anita Giddy • Jan Hatherell • Gabriel Hatherell • Toby Wilson • Danny Wilson Sunday, 22nd September (9:00 am to 1:00 pm) Patrol Group G: • Carl List • Jimmy Hayllor • James Kennedy • Shane Morgan • Ross Blakey
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On Saturday 7 September, the Burdekin Rugby Union Canetoads First Grade team took to the field to play in their first Grand Final game since 2016. After an eight year Grand Final hiatus, the First Grade team comprising of Tom Kastner, Nathan Steel, Mick Hall, JJ Gallego, Casey Kempson, Robbie Cantarella, Andy Smyth, Tubby Heron, Bradey Vasta, Andrew Kennedy, Darcey Horan, Josh Davies, Kelsey Hesp, Luke Torkington, Josh Furnell, Lochlan Winston, Jai Blakey, Damon Hesp, Liam Cannavan, Joel Horan
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William Chandler's journey in tennis reached a new peak at the recent JDS Regional Finals, where he showcased remarkable resilience and skill, ultimately securing the runner-up position. The intense competition saw William lose three match points before claiming his final standing, a moment of profound pride and joy for his family. "We were proud of his achievement and celebrated his willingness to give this sport a go," his parents, Janai and John Chandler, expressed. The sport, being ind
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The weekend saw plenty of action at Brandon Bowls Club, kicking off with the Trophy Bowls Night on Friday 13th, proudly sponsored by Gurgoes Inspiration Paints Ayr. Despite a lower-than-usual turnout, eight teams enjoyed a cool evening of friendly competition on the green. Team Mio Farming, regulars of the event, took home the honours for the night. Special thanks to all who contributed, especially Ken Feeney on the BBQ, Leo Kenny behind the bar, and the members who brought food. The next round
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Local Football Report The Burdekin Panthers Premier team travelled to Townsville on Saturday night to face Brothers in the Grand Final. Backed by a large crowd of supporters, the Panthers were narrowly defeated 3-4 in a thrilling, back-and-forth match. Although the result didn’t go their way, the Panthers played an outstanding game, and the outcome could easily have been different. The Ayr Anzac Club team entered the match with a mix of nerves and anticipation for their biggest game of the
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The Burdekin Water Festival’s Grand Parade and Mardi Gras lit up Ayr on Saturday with an energetic display of local pride and creativity. The streets were alive with floats from businesses, organisations, and schools, each vying for top honours in various categories. The parade kicked off with the Queensland Police Service (QPS) leading the way, setting a high-spirited tone for the event. The Townsville RSL Pipe Band followed, adding a traditional musical touch, while floats from Queensland Cou
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This past week, I was involved in a car crash that could have ended far worse than it did and although it has taken me a full week to fully process what happened, I am so grateful for everyone who has taken the time to check I’m ok. Thankfully, I’m on the mend, but the road to recovery has been made smoother by the overwhelming support from our incredible community. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Kari Ravizza, whose quick actions and kind words helped more than she can know. Kari was
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Cole Pontifex was more than overjoyed when he was announced as the Winning Junior Ambassador for the 2024 Burdekin Water Festival, a moment he says he’ll never forget. “The night when I was announced as the Winning Ambassador felt amazing, and it’ll be a night I’ll never forget, it was great!” explained Cole. Cole has been an active and valued member of the Burdekin Academy since he was 10 and representing the Academy as one of their Junior Ambassadors in the 2024 Burdekin Water Festival was
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Funding renovations for aging health infrastructure so it “will last generations” is at the top of the list for Labor candidate Anne Baker who is vying for the position of Member for Burdekin in the upcoming State Election, due to be held at the end of October. According to Ms Baker, the Labor Government is investing over $1 billion to deliver world-class health facilities in Queensland’s rural and remote communities through the Building Rural and Remote Health Program. More than 20 key proje
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Hello, I have been busy since my last column I attended the Burdekin Brass Band concert on the 4th August with Councillor Callan Oar, what a enjoyable afternoon. They had the whole theatre singing along and toe tapping to all of the great tunes from the old to the modern. What a great job they did. Well done. The Zonta Club had their 30th Birthday celebrations at the RSL, there were past and present ladies from the club. A lovely night was had by all reminiscing from the beginning of the club
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Member for Burdekin Dale Last has applauded the Burdekin and Bowen communities after a weekend of successful events in the regions. Thousands gathered to watch the colours and fun of the street parade as the Burdekin’s Water Festival successfully returned to Ayr’s main street. The community support was echoed in Bowen where racers and riders from across the nation competed in the renowned Don River Dash at Bowen. Mr Last said the success of both Bowen and Burdekin events at the weekend was a c
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As Mayor, I believe it is a priority to keep our community safe, particularly on our roads. Recently, we’ve seen an increase in traffic around the Giddy Road intersection at 5-Ways, and there’s growing concern about the potential for accidents with many already occurred. Google Maps may be partly responsible, directing motorists to use this route as a shortcut. This has led to a sharp rise in traffic at an intersection that wasn’t designed for such high volumes, increasing the likelihood of acc
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Home is Best is expanding into the Burdekin Region due to an identified need for additional care and support services. Following much community research and in line with the Aged Care Quality Standards, the Home is Best team identified an increase in choice of providers and supports available to community members was sought and a demand for change in how these services were delivered to clients in their homes. The Aged Care space is heavily monitored by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissio
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For Patrick and Kristy Shannon, the decision to start First In Physio was rooted in their desire to raise a family in a smaller town while creating something meaningful in their community. After graduating as physiotherapists in Brisbane, the couple decided to return to their roots and establish a clinic in Ayr. "We wanted to come home after living in Brisbane," they shared. "We both saw an opportunity to raise our kids in a close-knit town, but starting our own business came with risks." N
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As the warmer months approach, Burdekin residents can once again enjoy their local pools, which reopened on Sunday, September 1. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort shared the excitement around the reopening. “The reopening of our local pools is always a highlight as the weather starts to warm up,” Mayor Dalle Cort said. In addition to the re-opening, the Home Hill Pool has received upgrades to its amenities, enhancing the experience for swimmers this season. Residents are encouraged to visit the Burde
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Tosh’s Convenience Store, located in the heart of the Burdekin, has grown from a humble shop into a bustling mini supermarket that’s become a vital part of the community. The store's owner, Peta Wassmuth, was motivated by a desire to work independently, leading to the decision to take over and revitalise the store. One of the key changes implemented under the new ownership has been the introduction of in-store promotions, which have not only enhanced the shopping experience but also fostered a
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Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables (QCAR) has expanded its growers’ services footprint in the Burdekin and Herbert River regions with the engagement of three new employees last week. Burdekin local Angelo Licciardello and Herbert Rivers’ Lawrence Di Bella were both appointed this week as the new Burdekin and Herbert River District Managers respectively. Anna Di Bella, wife to Lawrence, also was appointed as Administration Officer in the Herbert River cane supply area. QCAR CEO Stephen
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Cane crushed This week Season to date Invicta 153,616 1,241,474 Pioneer 74,664 560,253 Kalamia 80,792 694,564 Inkerman 82,255 782,996 Burdekin 391,327 3,279,287 CCS Invicta 14.25 14.04 Pioneer 14.28 14.14 Kalamia 13.65 13.75 Inkerman 14.01 13.86 Burdekin 14.08 13.95 Weekly variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q240 54% 14.29 WSRA17 6% 13.32 KQ228 18% 13.92 SRA23 5% 13.83 Q183 11% 14.03 Q208 4% 14.01 Comments: The Burdekin mills processed just over 390,000 tonnes of cane for
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Opinion piece The Nationals will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds of farmers from across the country on September 10, in an unprecedented rally against Labor’s anti-farming ideology. Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox said Labor is destroying agriculture and making life impossible for the nation’s producers of food and fibre, due to endless cuts to the regions, anti-farming legislation and unnecessary red tape. “The Nationals 100 per cent support our farmers attending the N
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Gumlu students travelling on the bus to school will soon be a little safer after Member for Burdekin Dale Last joined community members to call for safety improvements to school buses. Mr Last said while it beggared belief that a bus carrying students as young as five years old along some of the deadliest sections of the Bruce Highway had been able to operate without seatbelts, the announcement of a replacement bus for the school run was a win for the safety of some of Gumlu’s youngest residen
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Simon Hood Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing The Brazil crush continues to power along and is currently around 60% complete. UNICA’s second half of July report indicated that while year to date the crush was ahead, the fortnightly cane crush is now below last year’s comparative volume. As each month passes, the focus on the UNICA reports intensify as analysts dissect the results to see if their projected sugar volume is still valid – or not. Cane crushed is a key variable and accumulated volum
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Burdekin Community Association Inc invites you to our Get Online Week ‘Be Tech and Scam Savvy Open Day’. Tuesday the 15th of October from 9.00am to 4.00pm at the Support Centre, 130 Queen St, Ayr. Get Free and friendly help from our Volunteer Tutors to improve your digital skills and learn how to be more connected on your electronic devices. Learn how to: • Connect with family, either via messenger or facetime • Avoid scams • Send messages and emails • Take photos and save
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